Tuesday, September 30, 2008

My birthday in a few pictures

My gluten free cupcake at Pahtyana and Clinton's (Friday b/f)

The roses Paul surprised me with on my actual b'day.

Pottery painting with some of the girls in my life and dinner (below)


Dinner out with Paul (Thursday after)

Rose in full bloom :o)

An Intoxicating Reality

We are always in the presence of God. Moses was commanded to remove his sandals because the ground on which he stood was holy; he was in the presence of Almighty God. We are always in His presence - every moment is sacred. This is an intoxicating reality.

I am loved by God and that truth should ignite every moment, every activity of my life.

"Brother Lawrence says that 'our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing that for God's sake which we commonly do for our own.'" (Transformed into Fire, p. 198)

"...live a God-enthralled life....everything we do is aflame with love." (197)

Friday, September 26, 2008

Is there a world you long to see?

I have been trying to figure out how to word this post for a week! Last Saturday I went to see Les Miserables with my family and Paul. It was superbly done and has always been an amazing story of mercy and redemption, love and honor.

I am going to post the lyrics to 2 songs as this post, because I don't know how to get to what I'm feeling - the words and the music stir my soul and make me think of more than the French revolutions. They are a call to arms for us as well....

"Do You Hear the People Sing?"
Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade,
is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free.

Will you give all you can give,
so that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live,
will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs
will water the meadows of France.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the songs of angry men?
It is the music of a people
who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart,
echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
when tomorrow comes

"Finale"
Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
Who are climbing to the light.
For the wretched of the earth
There is a flame that never dies.
Even the darkest night will end
And the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom
In the garden of the Lord.
They will walk behind the plough-share,
They will put away the sword.
The chain will be broken
And all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

My center

"The shift I propose begins with youth workers who live out of the wholeness of their own souls, who nurture a personal spirituality that makes Jesus Christ the center of everything. Youth need youth workers who dwell in the presence of God and are willing to walk along with them on the journey regardless of how often they are prone to personal detours." (Presence-Centered Youth Ministry: Guiding Students into Spiritual Formation by Mike King, p 11)

A new project my boss gave me yesterday is to go through a book he's read and type up everything he's underlined - sort of offer a taste of the content to those who don't read as often as he. I really like this project for a number of reasons. Primarily because I learn. The above quote was the first one I typed up. Impactful. My journal response:
"All I have to offer is my brokenness."

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Good Morning

Concerned that the radio station I listen to when I wake up may have been contributing in some small way to the attitudinal problems I have been having, I decided to switch it this weekend to KVOD, the Classical station. I think, perhaps, I have chosen poorly. Waking up to soothing music seems to contribute to going back to sleep. Granted, I've never been good at getting up on time; I make a lot of excuses and sleep until the radio turns off, one hour after it comes on. Perhaps I should have gone to bed at 10:15 when I first had the notion, instead of climbing into bed and reading Emma until 11:30 (but I finished it, so that's something, isn't it?)

Perhaps I should petition to have only Tchaikovsky played in the mornings between 6 and 6:30 - that would get me up!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

How can I give less?

"God loved them with all of his heart. And they were lovely because he loved them." - The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

What an amazing truth that is! What a tremendous reminder! There are often times in my life when I feel quite 'unlovely' - either because of my attitude or I'm just not looking in the mirror with a friendly eye. But the truth is, no matter how I do at work, or how hard I have to try to understand the distribution of a graph, or how quickly I snap at someone over something that has no meaning in the grand scheme of life, God loves me.

Of course, that doesn't leave me freedom to behave as I choose; in fact, the way I see it, it only leaves me to respond in love, to strive to be more and more like Christ every day. My worth is not bound in what I see or what I do or how easily something comes to me. My worth is bound up in the fact that God loves me; He thinks I'm worth giving everything - even the life of His only Son - to have me in relationship with Him.

That truth is worth standing for, fighting for, living for, dying for, and striving to obey - out of love - what this great God has commanded. He gave His all - how can I give any less? Mark 12:29-31

At last!

I found my marbles!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Birthday Ideas

For those few patrons of my birthday, I have compiled a short list. You can find it here.

Monday, September 1, 2008

SEPTEMBER!

Happy September, everyone! Only 3 more weeks until the Autumn begins!!!!!!!!!